locusts, or caterpillers; if their enemies besiege them in the cities of their land; whatsoever sore or whatsoever sickness there be: 29 Then what prayer or what supplication soever shall be made of any man, or of all thy people Israel, when every one shall know his own sore and his own grief, and shall spread forth his hands 'in this house: 30 Then hear thou from heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and render unto every man according unto all his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou only knowest the hearts of the children of men :) 10 31 That they may fear thee, to walk in thy ways, 'so long as they live "in the land which thou gavest unto our fathers. 32 Moreover concerning the stranger, which is not of thy people Israel, but is come from a far country for thy great name's sake, and thy mighty hand, and thy stretched out arm; if they come and pray in this house; 33 Then hear thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for; that all people of the earth may know thy name, and fear thee, as doth thy people Israel, and may know that 12 this house which I have built is called by thy name. 34 If thy people go out to war against their enemies by the way that thou shalt send them, and they pray unto thee toward this city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy name; 35 Then hear thou from the heavens their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their 13 cause. 36 If they sin against thee, (for there is no man which sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them over before their enemies, and "they carry them away captives unto a land far off or near; 37 Yet if they "bethink themselves in the land whither they are carried captive, and turn and pray unto thee in the land of their captivity, saying, We have sinned, we have done amiss, and have dealt wickedly; 38 If they return to thee with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, whither they have carried them captives, and pray toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, and toward the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house which I have built for thy name: 39 Then hear thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling place, their prayer and their supplications, and maintain their cause, and forgive thy people which have sinned against thee. 16 40 Now, my God, let, I beseech thee, thine THIS chapter continues the scene commenced in the last, where we were told of the glory of the Lord filling the house which had been built for his name, as they all stood prepared for the service assigned them. The matters brought before us here are, Solomon's blessing and prayer. He blessed the people; and he prayed unto God. In noticing this blessing, we must observe the confession he makes. The Lord hath said he would dwell in the thick darkness. But I have built an house of habitation for thee, and a place for thy dwelling for ever." That is, if the Lord will be pleased to acknowledge his own work, and sanctify the building with his own presence. But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? Behold, the heaven, and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee, how much less this house which I have built! (v. 1, 2, 18.) Now this is the language of deep humility, coupled with an exalted sense of the unutterable glory of the Divine Majesty. Such feelings are absolutely needful on all occasions. Solomon had done a work which the Lord himself had bidden him perform. But will the Lord condescend to notice it after all? So great is he, so little is this work of my hands, that it must be an act of the greatest condescension, in stooping down from the throne of his glory, if he be pleased to regard it with favour, or be pleased to dwell therein! Temples are nothing contrasted with God. The most glorious temple is the broken heart. The sweetest sounds ever heard here on earth, or in heaven above, are the sighs and prayers of the contrite soul. Where these are wanting, costly buildings, or precious stones, can form no substitute for the loss; and wherever these are found, they, and not splendid forms or structures, are the chief objects of divine notice and regard. (Is. lvii. 15, and lxvi. 1, 2.) With a mind thus humbled, let us pass on to notice Solomon's prayer. Altogether, this Altogether, this is a most astonishing expression of what passed in his heart on this solemn occasion. In this beautiful prayer he first acknowledges the Lord's mercy and truth; and then he prays for his unmerited blessings. He prays that the Lord would be pleased to regard him, and grant his request. He spreads before the Lord a vast variety of cases in which his mercy would be needful; and he prays that it may be granted in them all. In the case of one man sinning against another; if the people were put to the worse before the enemy; when the heaven is shut up, and there is no rain; if there be dearth in the land, blasting, mildew, or pestilence; concerning also the stranger which is come from a far country for thy great name's sake; if the people pray for success in their undertakings; if they sin against thee, and bethink themselves of their wickedness, and return to thee with all their heart; in all such cases, and in all others like them, or which may possibly occur, he prays that the Lord would hear from heaven the prayers thus offered, and maintain their cause, and forgive his people. Now, are you not hereby taught, first, that, in all your private necessities, you may spread all your wants, and all the particulars of your case, before the Lord? In every thing let your requests be made known unto God. You cannot be too particular in prayer. Abraham prayed for his son, and mentioned him by name. Jacob prayed to be delivered from Esau, telling the cause of his request. In short, the direction is, "Ask what I shall give thee." The answer is, Lord, I want pardon; I want peace; I want a new heart; I want more of thy love; I want more grace, more faith, more hope. And the promise is, "I have done according to thy word." And may we not also, secondly, learn that public prayer, for public and national mercies, is also a great duty and an high privilege? Surely, we may learn from the scene before us, that kings and princes, high and low, rich and poor, ought all to pray for the nation's welfare, as well as for personal blessings. Can a nation prosper without God? Will he favour the wicked and impenitent? Oh! be assured, that as "righteousness exalteth a nation, so sin is a reproach unto any people;" and that there can be no real happiness or safety, for men or nations, but as we are led to put our trust under the shadow of his wings. CHAPTER VII. 1 God having given testimony to Solomon's prayer by fire from heaven, and glory in the temple, the people worship him. 4 Solomon's solemn sacrifice. 8 Solomon having kept the feast of tabernacles, and the feast of the dedication of the altar, dismisseth the people. 12 God appearing to Solomon giveth him promises upon condition. TOW when Solomon had made an end NOW of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house. 2 And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD's house. 3 And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever. 4 ¶ Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the LORD. 5 And king Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty and two thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep: so the king and all the people dedicated the house of God. 6 And the priests waited on their offices: the Levites also with instruments of musick of the LORD, which David the king had made to praise the LORD, because his mercy endureth for ever, when David praised 'by their ministry; and the priests sounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood. 7 Moreover Solomon hallowed the middle of the court that was before the house of the LORD: for there he offered burnt offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings, because the brasen altar which Solomon had made was not able to receive the burnt offerings, and the meat offerings, and the fat. 8¶ Also at the same time Solomon kept the feast seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt. 9 And in the eighth day they made a solemn assembly: for they kept the dedication of the altar seven days, and the feast seven days. 10 And on the three and twentieth day of the seventh month he sent the people away into their tents, glad and merry in heart for the goodness that the LORD had shewed unto David, and to Solomon, and to Israel his people. 11 Thus Solomon finished the house of the LORD, and the king's house: and all that came into Solomon's heart to make in the house of the LORD, and in his own house, he prosperously effected. 12¶ And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice. 13 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; 14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 15 Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place. 16 For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually. 17 And as for thee, if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded thee, and shalt observe my statutes and my judgments; 18 Then will I stablish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I have covenanted with David thy father, saying, 'There shall not fail thee a man to be ruler in Israel. 19 But if ye turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them; 20 Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations. 21 And this house, which is high, shall be an astonishment to every one that passeth by it; so that he shall say, Why hath the LORD done thus unto this land, and unto this house? 22 And it shall be answered, Because they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods, and worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath he brought all this evil upon them. It was We have heard Solomon's prayer. We have here the answer given to his request. an answer of peace; but it was coupled with a very serious and solemn warning. There was every thing to encourage Solomon to cleave unto the Lord. There was, also, every thing to warn him, and the people, of the extreme danger of departing from him. "If my people," says God, "shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and forgive their sin, and heal their land (v. 14). And as for thee, if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded thee, and shalt observe my statutes and my judgments; then will I stablish the throne of thy kingdom. But if ye turn away and forsake statutes and my my commandments, then will I pluck them up out of my land; and this house I will cast out of my sight" (v. 17-20). Thus, the encouragement and the warning were blended together; and both were designed for their mutual good. Is not this God's general method of dealing with his people, all through his Word? Does he not most graciously encourage us to put our trust in him? Does he not solemnly warn us against the peril of forsaking him? Would a God of mercy and grace deal in this manner, were it not for our good? Both these are requisite for the healthy growth of true piety. As the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; so, in the fear of the Lord is strong confidence. He that fears the Lord will depart from evil, but he will never depart from the Lord. A religion con- and praise; we maintain the conflict, and CHAPTER VIII. 1 Solomon's buildings. 7 The Gentiles which were left Solomon made tributaries; but the Israelites rulers. 11 Pharaoh's daughter removeth to her house. 12 Solomon's yearly solemn sacrifices. 14 He appointeth the priests and Levites to their places. 17 The navy fetcheth gold from Ophir. the solar rays never penetrate, is dark and A cheerless. The alternations of clouds and sunshine, with warmth and showers, enhance the lovely and fruitful productions of the earth. Thus it is in regard to the soul. No sinner would be drawn to Christ without encouragement. No saint can ever be so favoured, or so safe, but he stands in need of solemn admonition. Probably, never are those admonitions more necessary, than when the soul is most favoured with the richest tokens of divine approbation and love. What a prayer was that of Solomon, which went up to the mercy seat on high! What an answer came down from above! Let us bear this in mind: if God deal with you as with sons, he will deal with you as a wise and merciful father would do for his children's welfare. He will use the rod of correction when requisite, as well as stretch forth the sceptre of his gracious love. Hel will create a holy fear, as well as impart a blessed hope. He will shake you with many misgivings, as well as fill your soul with the strongest confidence. Ask you, why? To keep you near him; to make you rely on him; to cause you to cleave close to him; so that faith, hope, prayer, love, joy, may, like so many arms of the soul, encircle his gracious bosom; and enable you to hang upon the sweet smiles of his countenance as the source of all your felicity for ever more. Nor let it ever be forgotten, that every token of divine mercy and love stands immediately connected with the great atonement (v. 1-3). As Christ is the propitiation for our sins; so all mercies flow from him, and all duties and privileges are sanctified by the blood of his cross. We love, joy, and rejoice; we fear, honour, and obey; we pray ND it came to pass at the end of twenty years, wherein Solomon had built the house of the LORD, and his own house, 2 That the cities which Huram had restored to Solomon, Solomon built them, and caused the children of Israel to dwell there. 3 And Solomon went to Hamath-zobah, and prevailed against it. 4 And he built Tadmor in the wilderness, and all the store cities, which he built in Hamath. 5 Also he built Beth-horon the upper, and Beth-horon the nether, fenced cities, with walls, gates, and bars; 6 And Baalath, and all the store cities that Solomon had, and all the chariot cities, and the cities of the horsemen, and 'all that Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and throughout all the land of his dominion. 7 As for all the people that were left of the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which were not of Israel, 8 But of their children, who were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel consumed not, them did Solomon make to pay tribute until this day. 9 But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no servants for his work; but they were men of war, and chief of his captains, and captains of his chariots and horsemen. 10 And these were the chief of king Solomon's officers, even two hundred and fifty, that bare rule over the people. ii ¶ And Solomon brought up the daughter of Pharaoh out of the city of David unto the house that he had built for her: for he said, My wife shall not dwell in the house of David king of Israel, because the places are 'holy, whereunto the ark of the LORD hath come. 12 ¶ Then Solomon offered burnt offerings. unto the LORD on the altar of the LORD, which he had built before the porch, 13 Even after a certain rate every day, offering according to the commandment of Moses, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts, three times in the year, even in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles. 14 And he appointed, according to the order of David his father, the courses of the priests to their service, and the Levites to their charges, to praise and minister before the priests, as the duty of every day required: the porters also by their courses at every gate for so had David the man of God commanded. 15 And they departed not from the commandment of the king unto the priests and Levites concerning any matter, or concerning the treasures. 16 Now all the work of Solomon was prepared unto the day of the foundation of the house of the LORD, and until it was finished. So the house of the LORD was perfected. 17¶Then went Solomon to Ezion-geber, and to 'Eloth, at the sea side in the land of Edom. 18 And Huram sent him by the hands of his servants ships, and servants that had knowledge of the sea; and they went with the servants of Solomon to Ophir, and took thence four hundred and fifty talents of gold, and brought them to king Solomon. THIS chapter gives some relation of Solomon's other buildings, besides the house of the Lord; the distinction he made between the tributaries and the people; his taking Pharaoh's daughter into her house; his yearly sacrifices; his appointment of the priests and the Levites; and his costly merchandise. Many things are here presented for improvement, if time and space would permit the notice of them all. Let us take a few. Twenty years had now passed away since he commenced these undertakings. How soon does time fleet on its course! Years, how soon do they speed their rapid flight! No sooner do we enter upon a year, than, before we are aware, its greater part is gone. The same may be said of life. No sooner do we step from our cradle, than we hasten on to the grave. In Solomon's case, much had been done for God; his had not been an idle life. Now, the question is, What are you doing? What have you done? Have you been working for God? Have you laboured for the good of souls? His is the best life that has been most useful. His is the longest life that has been most spent in the love and service of God. The great question ought to be, not how shall I get through my day; but what shall I do in it? Not how shall I spend my time; but how shall I best employ it? how can I lay it out to the best advantage? what good can I do? how may I best promote the extension of the gospel, the cause of Christ, the welfare of my fellowcreatures, and the salvation of lost and perishing souls? In the order of his government, Solomon made a great distinction between the natives of Israel and the strangers that dwelt among them. The Every Israelite was a freeman. strangers were all put under a tribute. Thus a very great difference was established between Israel and others. Is there not a far greater difference still subsisting between some and others to this day? Are not believers in Christ the Lord's freemen? Knowing the Lord, does not the truth make them free? On the other hand, are not all unconverted people still under the penalties of the law; in bondage to sin; and led captive by Satan at his will? (See 1 Cor. xxii., and Gal. iv. 21-31.) There is a strange circumstance recorded of Solomon's wife. He built a separate house for her use. He said, "My wife shall not dwell in the house of David king of Israel, because the places are holy whereunto the ark of the Lord hath come" (v. 11). What, then, was the state of his wife? Was she an unholy woman? Was she an unconverted character? If so, how unsuited was this marriage for Solomon. What part hath he that believeth with an infidel? Was not this a wrong step taken on his settlement in life? Did not this one unadvised step lead to others still more so? Ah! take heed. In all such cases the point is, not what is my inclination; but what is my duty. You are at full liberty; but only in the Lord. Many lives are made bitter in this world, and many souls are ruined in the next, entirely owing to indiscreet and unauthorised marriages. Surely if you are to imitate the |